Japan Builds First Off-Shore Wind Farm

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and Penta-Ocean Construction Co. have built Japan's first offshore wind farm, about 700 meters off the coast of the northern island of Hokkaido, near the harbor town of Sedana.

Though commonplace in Europe, this will be Japan's first marine wind farm. The marine location is advantageous because the wind over the sea is strong and steady.

The two new 600kw turbines, made by Danish firm Vestas Wind Systems A/S, are located 330 meters from each other, in waters 13 meters deep, inside the harbor's seawall.

The turbines' combined 1,200kw output is enough to supply electricity for 400-600 households.

The turbines are linked to the onshore transformer via a 1.2km undersea cable.

The total cost of the project was about Y650 million yen ( $US6.17 million).